I am funded by CRI as a postdoctoral fellow to do fundamental research in immunology. I am extremely impressed by how dedicated CRI is to the goal of using a greater understanding of the immune system in order to combat cancer. As can be seen from the very important recent advances in therapeutics that have come from this approach, CRI's investment in this field is profoundly impacting cancer research and treatment.

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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

I received postdoctoral fellowship funding from CRI and have benefited from their exceptional annual conference.

The Cancer Research Institute plays a very important role to support the work of scientists who have original ideas of cancer immunotherapy, which are promising, but not yet proven enough for obtaining financial support from commercial groups. In our laboratory we had the idea of localizing on tumor cells, with specific monoclonal antibodies, molecules, such as Major Histocompatibility Complexe (MHC), loaded with viral peptides, which can activate the T lymphocytes to attack the target tumor cells. Thank to a 3 years support provided by CRI, a senior post doc in our group, Dr Alena Donda, we were able to make the first demonstration of this therapeutic strategy in experimental animals (Donda et al. Cancer Immunity 2003). Furthermore, Dr Donda demonstrated that an MHC like molecules, called CD1d, loaded with a glycolipid ligand, called alphaGalCer, also targeted to the tumor cells by monoclonal antibodies, was capable to specifically inhibit tumor growth in vivo (Donda et al. J. Clin. Invest. 2008) and to give a sustained activation of the Natural Killer Cells known to be important in the innate immunity. Later this project was sponsored by industry, and may become a clinically useful form of cancer therapy; but the role of CRI in the initiation of this project was essential.

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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

Yes I have benefited from the Cancer Research Institute sponsoring and followed the results of many other projects supported by CRI

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

I would suggest to select more specific original project and leave the expensive trial to be supported by industry

the Cancer Research Institute not only funded my postdoctoral research in tumor immunology but inserted me into the perfect environment to start building my research career. Through their PhD, postdoctoral and new investigator awards programs plus their anual meetings, the CRI puts together an impressive group of scientists all with different expertises and ideas but at the same time all with the same general goal: to defeat cancer.

The caliber of the scientists involved in CRI is simply outstanding, and the fact that many times a year they are all put together in the same room to discuss failures and successes in our fight against cancer has definitively yielded promising results. This is the perfect environment to be inserted as a young investigator and I am really grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of this group of scientist. Most importantly, the network of scientists generated under CRI's umbrella is a permanent one, as investigators continue to interact and collaborate in cancer related projects for much longer than their CRI sponsored funding.

CRI is much more than a charity or funding agency, is truly an incubator for fantastic science, research and development.

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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

CRI funded my research which led to a better understanding of how one of the most promising drugs against melanoma works. It further my career by making me part of a fantastic network of scientist. It continues to make an impact on my research through collaborations generated during my fellowship but that continue to grow over time.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

I would increase its funding so more young and established scientist can further their careers and work together towards a cancer cure.

More feedback...

How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?

Very Well

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

Life-changing

Will you recommend this organization to others?

Definitely

What is unique about this organization?

the caliber of the scientists, and the long term vision that this organization has regarding the generation of the perfect critical mass of scientist working in immunology and cancer.

The funding provided by CRI allowed me to support a wonderfully talented postdoctoral fellow from Africa to embark on an almost entirely unexplored area of research relevant to human infectious diseases, autoimmune disease and cancer. These studies open up an important new area of research specifically related to human immunology. Because of hard work and enthusiasm this fellow has made much additional progress on investigations related to the understanding of a spectrum of virus-associated cancers that occur word-wide, to autoimmune disease and tumor immunology; moreover this young scientist is now well on the way to an independent career. Without the constant support of CRI this would not have been possible.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

allowing my laboratory and my students to conduct research in innovative new areas of human immunobiology.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Increase their funding to make more of their important and creative work possible.

I am an Immunology researcher and have received funding from the Cancer Research Institute for my laboratory. As a new investigator, the CRI funding allowed me to get my research started quickly and allowed me to get results allowing me to successfully compete for NIH funding for my research focused on immunology, inflammation and autoimmune disease.

I received a grant from the CRI that was instrumental in allowing me to get my laboratory started at Washington University. CRI is a wonderful organization and I will always be grateful for their support at an early and critical stage of my career. I have now been running my lab for 13 years and we focus on how immune cells can become transformed leading to leukemia and lymphoma.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

My career as a basic scientist

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

None. Perfect the way it is. Perhaps I would suggest to others that they contribute to CRI

I was a recipient of 3 year postdoctoral fellowship from CRI. I think CRI is playing a crucial role in supporting young scientists to develop their career. It role is very important for our future of science, particularly when public funding is affected by economic crisis and politics.

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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

It was very important to develop my career as a scientist.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Since the duration of postdoctoral training is getting longer, if transitional fellowship from postdoc to faculty can be provided by CRI, that would be great.

I received three years fellowship from CRI for my research at the university of Chicago. This fellowship helped us to start a very competitive project . CRI grants help many labs to fund important research works especially when other funding sources are affected due to economic crisis. CRI is doing a great job of providing stable fundings . This allows us to focus on our research. I appreciate CRI's commitment towards science. I am very proud of being a part of CRI community.

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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

this organisation is funding for my research and this organisation also helped me to attend many scientific meetings.

I received a 3 year postdoctoral fellowship from the CRI, which was much appreciated. In addition to supporting high-quality science, the CRI brings its members together for an annual conference in New York City. This small, tightly knit meeting is one of the best I have ever attended. The CRI, as a whole, really believes in its mission of using basic science to fight cancer, and you can tell from the passion and the intellect of the people it brings together.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

I received 3 years of funding for my research on the role of B lymphocytes in crosspresentation of tumor antigens.